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Neal Quinn committed to U of R

I was interested in Stephens if Quinn fell through because I like a 5 that's a threat outside too. but we often complained that either Golden shouldn't be shooting out there, or that he passed up open shots out there. you're not a threat at 30%. defenses want 30% shooters taking that shot. so the fact that Quinn focuses his scoring inside with a 7' body doesn't bother me.

Golden was a great passer, but Quinn's numbers would be the best for a UR big man since TJ's senior year. and without looking back too far, I think TJ's senior year assists were the most ever for a Spider big man. so I don't think Quinn's lack of 3 point shooting hurts his passing much.
 
SpiderTrap said:
Count me as 1 who undervalued Grace. But I liked what I saw at the end of last season in the NIT, but was hesitant since it was such a small sample size. Then this past season - he didn't show much early on but towards the end of the season - he was the spark this team needed off the bench and he plays with confidence.

I don't think he becomes an all A10 player next season, but that would be an awesome end to his career. But I see no reason why he couldn't average 10 points a night. With all that we lost - the only scorer we have right now is Burton. Someone else has to shoot and score. And I think just by default, and given Grace will likely benefit from teams focusing on Burton - he can get 10 points a night on 7-8 shots a night.

My issue with Quinn is he can't shoot the 3. I worry we take a step back because the reason Golden, Geriot, Harper, Grace, and Cline could make good passes is because teams had to at least respect them on the high elbow or top of the key. But now if make Quinn that position - teams will just lay off in the lane, dare him to shoot, and this clogs up all our cutters. Yes - he will get opportunity to score in the post, but remember - a huge chunk of our offense relies on the big man catching and making decisions on the high elbow and top of the key.

Golden shot about 80 threes a year when he played, and only made about 30% - which is right on the threshold of respecting the shooter. But if we put a guy out there who has only attempted 5 in his career - teams will game plan for that and we will need to adjust.
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If your 7 feet tall, you shouldn't be hanging out around the 3 point line. Keep him in the paint, where a 7 footer belongs.
 
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spiderman said:
I was interested in Stephens if Quinn fell through because I like a 5 that's a threat outside too. but we often complained that either Golden shouldn't be shooting out there, or that he passed up open shots out there. you're not a threat at 30%. defenses want 30% shooters taking that shot. so the fact that Quinn focuses his scoring inside with a 7' body doesn't bother me.

Golden was a great passer, but Quinn's numbers would be the best for a UR big man since TJ's senior year. and without looking back too far, I think TJ's senior year assists were the most ever for a Spider big man. so I don't think Quinn's lack of 3 point shooting hurts his passing much.
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Stephens shot 50% from three, so he was certainly a threat from out there and everywhere else. But I don't think we had a realistic shot at him anyway.
 
spiderman said:
this board dramatically under-valued Matt's skill set early on, and now seems to have swung wildly in the other direction. I hope he's a late-blooming star only held back by Mooney and buried by Golden. I hope he comes back. but I believe Quinn's on another level. Matt would be great for depth upfront, but Quinn's our starting 5.
as for Quinn learning our "system", he ran a similar offense at Lafayette and we now play man defense. plus it's basketball. this isn't rocket surgery.
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100% agree on Matt and more hopeful about Quinn now!
 
97spiderfan said:
If your 7 feet tall, you shouldn't be hanging out around the 3 point line. Keep him in the paint, where a 7 footer belongs.
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Not going to happen. Our offense always starts with our big man getting the ball on the elbow and working a lot from the top of the key on pick and pop/roll action and giving space to cutters. If we just anchor a 7 footer on the block and don't move him out - there are no more cuts to the basket and we would have to move to a more traditional style offense of setting screens for Burton and giving him isolation plays - considering we have not done that before, I find it hard to believe one transfer from Lafayette makes that change.

Rather - I expect Quinn to play like Golden, since I do think he can pass. And I expect him to be shooting 3's non-stop in the gym from now until first game. I would expect he takes 50+ 3 pointers next season.
 
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yes, from the videos that how Quinn plays. he'll usually start up top. he'll get the ball and look back door, he'll swing pass and ball screen/roll, or he'll dive and post. later in the set he'll seal deep inside. similar stuff to Grant. hopefully similar success at this level.
 
I doubt Quinn will go from taking 5 threes a year to 50. It's not a part of his game, don't see it becoming one this late in the process.
 
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Under Mooney - when have we had a starting center not shoot 3's? And by shoot - I am setting the threshold at 50 attempts for the year.

Cayo didn't shoot - but he was more forward. Garrett didn't shoot but he was a bench player. O'doda???
 
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Garrett didn't shoot many threes, did he? I understand your point, but Quinn's value to us is not in his ability to shoot threes or fool the defense into thinking he might. His value is that despite not shooting threes, he's an excellent passer, and he will always be the tallest guy on the court, so theoretically, he can score in the post even when the defense knows he's planning to do it.

We recruited him understanding his strengths and weaknesses. I doubt he comes here if Mooney's pitch was, 'The first thing we're going to do is force you to shoot a bunch of threes all summer until you're good at it.'
 
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Grant only took 19 threes in 2019–20. He took only 18 in 2020–21...COVID-shortened, but well below 50 pace.
 
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I think the thinking by our staff will be - we are not going to force him to shoot 3's. But he has good form and can shoot - he shot 70% from free throw line. So I think the thought will be - we can make him into a 3 point threat.

And based on what I have seen in highlights of him - I don't see why he couldn't be a Golden like shooter from 3 - around 30% with limited attempts (50 or so).
 
I'm sure he'll practice them as I'm sure he practiced them at Lafayette. there's only so many drop steps and hooks you can take in a day. but unless he suddenly becomes a lights out shooter I don't think it'll become a huge part of his game. he can be very effective without it at his size and with his skills.
 
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spiderman said:
I'm sure he'll practice them as I'm sure he practiced them at Lafayette. there's only so many drop steps and hooks you can take in a day. but unless he suddenly becomes a lights out shooter I don't think it'll become a huge part of his game. he can be very effective without it at his size and with his skills.
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No doubt he will be left open at the arc to find out. That’s what everyone did with Golden.
 
I'm glad Neal was smart enough to understand his limitations and not shoot a lot of threes. I don't think Grant taking lots of threes while only making 28% of them was a good thing.

We got a 7' center who scored more, shot a better percentage, rebounded more, blocked more, and assisted more than our outgoing center, was second-team all-Patriot, and offered by Big 10 and ACC programs. If he didn't have any flaws for you to pick at, he'd already be in the NBA.

I'm looking forward to lots of assists, points in the paint, and rebounds from Neal. I'm not looking forward to him jacking up lots more threes than he ever has -- good three point shooting will be the job for the next transfer we land.
 
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So 100 threes the next 2 years and 7 total the last 3 years?

I just don't see any of our players taking a three pointer with a foot on the corner of the free throw line.

I expect Neal to start at the elbow and either pass or drive & shoot. Not to fade out...
 
MountainSpider said:
I'm glad Neal was smart enough to understand his limitations and not shoot a lot of threes. I don't think Grant taking lots of threes while only making 28% of them was a good thing.

We got a 7' center who scored more, shot a better percentage, rebounded more, blocked more, and assisted more than our outgoing center, was second-team all-Patriot, and offered by Big 10 and ACC programs. If he didn't have any flaws for you to pick at, he'd already be in the NBA.

I'm looking forward to lots of assists, points in the paint, and rebounds from Neal. I'm not looking forward to him jacking up lots more threes than he ever has -- good three point shooting will be the job for the next transfer we land.
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Exactly. Let's worry about the next guy we land being a 3 point shooter, not this guy. A good team will have 3 quality 3 point shooters. A great team will have quality 3 point shooters and a 7 foot big who does not need to shoot 3s because you have enough other guys to do that.
 
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Eight Legger said:
Garrett didn't shoot many threes, did he? I understand your point, but Quinn's value to us is not in his ability to shoot threes or fool the defense into thinking he might. His value is that despite not shooting threes, he's an excellent passer, and he will always be the tallest guy on the court, so theoretically, he can score in the post even when the defense knows he's planning to do it.

We recruited him understanding his strengths and weaknesses. I doubt he comes here if Mooney's pitch was, 'The first thing we're going to do is force you to shoot a bunch of threes all summer until you're good at it.'
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Pretty sure Garret shot 100% from 3 one season.
 
Let's not forget the 3 point line is farther back now than it was during TJ's era. For guys who have not shot much from deep their whole career, I wouldn't count on them to just start making a 22+ foot shot consistently.
 
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Cayo didn't shoot 3's and our offense survived. Just as Quinn isn't going to be launching up 3's. I do expect Quinn to use his passing skills away from the practice as Grant did, but always felt Grant spent far too much time out along the 3 point line. He was always wide open too because that is what the defense wanted.

I actually think Quinn not being a 3 point shooter helps us. Mooney is going to have to tweak the offense to not having him out at the 3 point line as much as Grant, which should be a good thing.
 
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For all we know Quinn may have be drawn to UR & we could have pitched him on how we’ve used a lot of our big men which includes the 3 ball. He may want to expand his game. Now I expect primarily he’ll be utilized similarly to Lafayette but it also would not surprise me to see him take roughly the same qty of 3s as Golden. Which wasn’t a whole lot he avg ~ 1.5 a game over career.
 
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97spiderfan said:
Cayo didn't shoot 3's and our offense survived. Just as Quinn isn't going to be launching up 3's. I do expect Quinn to use his passing skills away from the practice as Grant did, but always felt Grant spent far too much time out along the 3 point line. He was always wide open too because that is what the defense wanted.

I actually think Quinn not being a 3 point shooter helps us. Mooney is going to have to tweak the offense to not having him out at the 3 point line as much as Grant, which should be a good thing.
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97, if Quinn makes them, he can take all he wants.
 
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97spiderfan said:
Cayo didn't shoot 3's and our offense survived. Just as Quinn isn't going to be launching up 3's. I do expect Quinn to use his passing skills away from the practice as Grant did, but always felt Grant spent far too much time out along the 3 point line. He was always wide open too because that is what the defense wanted.

I actually think Quinn not being a 3 point shooter helps us. Mooney is going to have to tweak the offense to not having him out at the 3 point line as much as Grant, which should be a good thing.
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Cayo didn't shoot 3's but he rarely was the guy setting screens at the top like Golden, catching the ball on the elbow or top of the key, or even making back door passes. Grant has nearly doubled Cayo in assists while at UR, and I think part of the reason is because teams had to be respect his shot just a little bit and couldn't lay 5 feet off him.

Just a game of angles at that point. If your defender is 1 foot away, you have more space to make passes to cutters, etc. If you man is 5 feet off - much more difficult because those passing lanes become clogged. And that is my point. I don't expect Quinn to be jacking 3's left and right. And I think where Grant would set a pick and float out to 3, Quinn will roll to basket. But I think coaches will work with him because he seems to have good form and our offense is built on 3 point shooting (like it or not) - to make him a capable shooter so that if teams give you 5 feet of space, knock it down. Teams gave Cayo 5 feet of space and he never could knock it down and he strictly became a guy who cut to the basket, post up, and offensive rebound here and there. I think Quinn can be more than that with an outside shot.
 
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we don't have much of a history in making non-shooters into shooters.

he'll likely be the 5th most efficient 3 point shooter on the floor at any time, so unless we're late in the shot clock I'd rather he run the offense, look to create for others, and get inside. he's got nice post moves and a nice mid range jumper. go with your strengths.
 
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spiderman said:
we don't have much of a history in making non-shooters into shooters.

he'll likely be the 5th most efficient 3 point shooter on the floor at any time, so unless we're late in the shot clock I'd rather he run the offense, look to create for others, and get inside. he's got nice post moves and a nice mid range jumper. go with your strengths.
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One thing I would like to see - clear outs for Burton on the wing. So many times I felt like last year - he would catch the ball on the wing, and try to drive baseline or into the lane - only to be clogged up by someone cutting or going into the post.

Similar to the Grace basket in the A10 tourney where the whole side was cleared for him - we need to give Burton more of these opportunities to let Burton use his greatest strength which is driving to the basket in 1-2 dribbles. When you ask him to dribble more - it becomes an issue, but give him a wing - cleared out and I think he can beat his man more times than not, or get fouled, or draw attention to get others open.
 
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SpiderTrap said:
One thing I would like to see - clear outs for Burton on the wing. So many times I felt like last year - he would catch the ball on the wing, and try to drive baseline or into the lane - only to be clogged up by someone cutting or going into the post.

Similar to the Grace basket in the A10 tourney where the whole side was cleared for him - we need to give Burton more of these opportunities to let Burton use his greatest strength which is driving to the basket in 1-2 dribbles. When you ask him to dribble more - it becomes an issue, but give him a wing - cleared out and I think he can beat his man more times than not, or get fouled, or draw attention to get others open.
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spiderman said:
his kid is 7'0"! you didn't expect dad to be 5'10" did you?!
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Wellll...Dji is 6'6 and I'm 5'9 😂 that's nothing but the Lord
 
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spider23 said:
I didn't want to bring that up :):). Must have had him hanging on the pull up bar 3 hours a night.
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Yes the MJ method 😂 but in all seriousness, I always prayed for and believed if the Lord would bless Dji at 6 ft he would play college ball. Be careful what you ask for...The Lord def answers prayers 😀🙏
 
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urmite said:
Is he 17 or 18 years old?
Asking for a friend…
or maybe a Coach…
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That reminds me of the Shaq story (whether true or not).
LSU was playing an exhibition on a Air Force Base in Germany, After the game, the coach was talking to the guy who was sweeping the floor. He was 6'8" 260.

The coach asked "Do you work here?"
He said "No, I'm only 13"
The coach asked "Where's your dad?"
 
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